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Check out
what’s going on
around Winnipeg tonight! |
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Check out
this week’s
online CD reviews by our
music staff |
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Choke
Slow Fade Or: How I Learned To Question Infinity
(Smallman Records)
C+
Website: www.chokeonline.com
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If I hear any more bands
like Choke, I’m going to... well, I think you know. It’s
not that Choke is a bad band. In fact, they’re a great band,
and Slow Fade... is a good album despite the overly long title.
It’s just that Choke sounds like a lot of the emo/hardcore
bands that the kids eat up and which I just don’t get. While
I love the ultra-technical, proggish component of the sound, as
well as the quick, skilful time changes, there’s no crunch.
Choke — and almost every other band in the ever-growing
genre — seems to be afraid to really bust a riff. C’mon,
make it hurt a bit. Let me know you can rock out. Choke have their
heads in the clouds, serving up a mid-paced, whiny record that
is so tired. This one’s for the kids.
Jared Story
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Grave Digger
The Last Supper
(Nuclear Blast/PHD Canada)
C+
Website: www.gravedigger.de
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Zis German metal band
has been up to evil for over 20 years now, and some consider
the outfit to be one of the key groups in Eurometal. The Last
Supper sees Grave Digger back at it, forsaking the concept album
theme of 2003’s Rheingold and just putting out 12 muscular
metal tracks. At times this disc is a god and at other times
it’s a devil. Cuts such as Desert Rose, Hell to Pay and
Soul Savior contain some of the best heavy-distortion thrash
riffs in recent memory, but the songs are oddly unsatisfying
as a whole. Grave Digger plays power metal and can’t be
expected to ride a riff like the thrashers in Kreator, but these
tracks are two-headed monsters of striking vitality and bloated
listlessness. Someone should cut the sleeping head right off
the beast and set these guys free.
Mike Warkentin |
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Nine Inch Nails
With Teeth
(Interscope)
B
Website: www.nin.com
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With Teeth is only the
fourth full album from Trent Reznor and co. since 1989, and the
first he’s made sober. Unfortunately, it’s also a
little less than amazing. In its entirety, this outing is just
average when compared to the likes of Pretty Hate Machine or The
Downward Spiral. For the most part, With Teeth is dark, melodramatic
and passionless, though there are a few exceptions. Debut single
The Hand that Feeds showcases Reznor’s ability to mix techno
into a raw, passionate metal groove. Only captures the feel of
classic NIN with its danceable grooves, aggressive message and
no-bullshit approach to life. Overall though, With Teeth sounds
like Reznor was depressed and lacking vitality while making it;
it lacks creativity and originality. To be fair, you have to be
in the right mood to listen to NIN and With Teeth. I have no doubt
the disc will grow on you.
Charlene Plezia
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Various
Artists
Come to the Mountain: Old Time Music for Modern Times
(Rounder Records)
B
Various Artists
Mountain Journey: Stars of Old Time Music
(Rounder Records)
B
Website: www.rounder.com
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This interchangeable companion
set gleaned from the huge Rounder Records back catalogue cobbles
together a wide array of like-minded players all resting comfortably
under the tin roof of ‘old-time music.’ Both sets
are over 20 tracks deep and bring to the table some fine examples
of the American roots music style that pre-dated — and some
say directly influenced — bluegrass music. The albums are
replete with haunting story songs of personal and familial tragedy
and pain, as well as sprightly dance-party numbers designed to
ignite the hardwood floors. Tony Trischka, Corey Harris and Allison
Krauss are just a few of the more recognizable names on the Modern
set, while Mike Seeger, Hazel Dickens and Doc Watson appear on
the Stars set. A collectable set aimed at aficionados of the style.
Jeff Monk |
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Hammerfall
Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken
(Nuclear Blast/PHD Canada)
B+
Website: www.hammerfall.net
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People are always bitching
that Hammerfall never changes its sound. Does Mick Jagger put
up with this shit? Or Angus Young? Then when a band changes its
style everyone screams “Sellout!” (see the debate
surrounding the last In Flames release for an example). Well to
the depths of Viking hell with all that. If you want the best
in polished power metal, go straight to this Swedish quintet.
Chapter V is the first studio release since 2002’s Crimson
Thunder and follows the 2004 live album One Crimson Night. This
latest effort shows that Joachim Cans et al. haven’t lost
their horned helmets or misplaced their weapons — or sold
out. You can sing along with the choruses, bang your head like
a manic berserker, pillage a few villages and still have enough
metal valour for the long sail home to the North. Hammer of Justice
is great for smashing skulls and snapping bones, and Never Ever
is best for when the time is right to bed your maiden or warrior.
As an added bonus, Cronos from Venom makes an appearance on Knights
of the 21st Century. This is by-the-numbers Eurometal, but it’s
done wickedly well. Plus, Hammerfall always gets massive bonus
points for its gnarly album covers. Just imagine asking the hammer-wielding
dude on the cover of Chapter V about changing his style. Not so
mouthy with a boot on your throat, are you?
Mike Warkentin |
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Jaga
What We Must
(Ninja Tune)
B-
Website: www.ninjatune.net
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Since its 1994 debut this
10-piece Norwegian band (formerly known as Jaga Jazzist) has been
at the forefront of pop music in its home country. After months
of writing tracks for this release, the group discarded material
and started afresh, recording this instrumental disc in one day.
Even without knowing this, Jaga’s latest feels like a long
live recording — often too long. Stardust Hotel is like
a dream filled with falling stars before a whiny, ’70s-influenced
synthesizer riff interrupts the calm. Oslo Skyline offers a welcome
break from the crazy jam-session feel. There are a couple of good
tunes, but for the most part it feels like the players are out
of control, trying to compete with each other. Not a bad disc
to add to your collection for lazy days, but definitely not a
must.
Shannon Ander |
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Terranova
Digital Tenderness
(Ministry of Sound)
C+
Website: www.ministryofsound.de
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There’s nothing
tender about smashing your fist into a wall, and after the eighth
track on Terranova’s new release you’ll likely feel
like doing just that. There’s been a recent shuffle in
members, but Terranova’s founder, Fetisch, is going strong.
Along with Naudascher and Shapedmod, he collaborated with Jayney
Klimek. Her annoying voice overpowers almost every track on
the disc, and the vocals rival any cheesy trance banger. Klimek’s
voice is least intrusive on The Real Thing and Das Plan, both
of which will have even the most serious goth girls dancing.
Falling Back in Time would be good for a zombie scene —
it’s dead boring. If you’re into ’80s-influenced
dirty electro, there are a few good tracks to be had, but there
are too many lulls for this disc to stay in your player for
more than a week.
Shannon Ander |
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Young Buck
Straight Outta Ca$hville
(G-Unit/Interscope)
B-
Website: www.young-buck.com
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Young Buck? Don’t
let the name fool you. This debut album from G-Unit crony David
(Young Buck) Brown isn’t recommended listening for urban
newbies or anyone suffering from a panic-related disorder. If
you’re susceptible to anxiety attacks, paranoid delusions
or epileptic seizures, then I’d suggest considering a
more consumer-friendly alternative. Have you ever witnessed
a hostage situation or a bank robbery in progress? Not many
of us have; however, I’ll bet that after hearing a few
of these intense and descriptive accounts you’ll be applying
for police protection. Starting with the thuggish I’m
a Soldier, this revealing self-portrait packs a wallop. You’d
better come strapped like MC Eight before sampling this blistering
diatribe — or risk cardiac arrest. Ya heard!
Horace Carrington |
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